The Art of Holstebro - Welcome to the Holstebro Area

The Art of Holstebro

Art in the street scenery
Art plays a prominent role in the town of Holstebro – not only inside the museums but also outside embellishing the streets. It all started in 1966 with the Giacometti-sculpture Woman on Chart – commonly referred to as Maren. She is today the symbol of the town. Walking around town you will discover sculptures, decorations, fountains and much more.

When walking in Nørregade – remember to look down! Bjørn Nørgaard has made three circular pavement decorations in the pedestrian streets. They all have mythological or religious references: The Hand of Jesus, The Source of Life and The Eye of Odin. In summer, water trickles over the granite stones from a source in the middle of the circles.

Bjørn Nørgaard is also the artist behind the impressive sculpture at Nørreport: The Citizens of Holstebro. He was inspired by the famous sculpture The Citizens of Calais from 1886 made by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin.

If you continue your walk down Nørregade you will arrive at the square called Store Torv. In the middle of the fountain you will see a ceramic sculpture depicting the motif from the town arms of Holstebro: St. George and the Dragon. The sculpture was made by Steen Lykke Madsen.

When you are studying the works of art in Holstebro don’t forget to look upwards. Myths and legends from all over the world have inspired the artistic group Krukako. Some of the 36 bronze sculptures of The Tobacconist’s Dream are watching the town from above, placed on top of Hotel Royal and Holstebro Music Theatre, while others, standing on squares, take part in town life.

The above is only a selection of the numerous works of art in town. Come discover the many art treasures in Holstebro.

Astrid Noack’s sculpture Kneeling Boy arrived in town the same year as Maren. Today, it is standing in Nørregade where it crosses Bisgårdgade.

You are welcome to have a look inside the town hall, too. Pictures and sculptures decorate the open areas, the corridors and the offices.

From Nørregade we suggest you make a little trip to the town hall. At the curved wall of the council hall the words of Lawrence Weiner’s Inscription shine brightly. The artist imagined the wall as the bow of a sailing ship, and to him the North Star – Polaris – is man’s basic point of orientation.